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Big news is that FIFA have decided that since a few of the big teams are struggling to reach the world cup finals they’re going to dick about with the rules a bit. So now the 2nd place playoffs will be seeded. Slightly shit teams are rightly annoyed.

Rafa will have 12 million to spend in January. Probably won’t buy him many magic beans

Fergie and Ben Foster have a row over how shit he is. Reports that Fergie threw a boot at him and he jumped and fumbled it are as yet unconfirmed

Nobody wants to play for Scotland now. Can you blame them?

Some Johnstones Paint Trophy matches last night. Some under 20s today. God I hate international weeks

decided that being one of the most promising prospects at a Premiership football club wasn't quite exciting enough for him, and has got himself arrested for possession of cannabis with intent to supply, and possession of counterfeit money. Impressive stuff.

"I just can't fathom why people aren't applauding the fact that these Middle East businessmen want to invest in Notts County.

"I don't know if it's jealousy or a vendetta or pure spite and maliciousness."

That's it! We're all jealous and malicious!

It's none of the above, you thick-as-fuck twonk. If you can't understand why people aren't falling over themselves to applaud these 'new messiahs', then you really are one of the most clueless buffoons on the planet.

they already had the £20mil raised from 600 or so individuals before now.

the spokesman was that tit from one of the fanzines who always gets on SSN whenever there's a 'crisis' at the club.

this will never make it, Ashley is obviously holding out for a £100mil+ from one investor, and I can't imagine that the collective wisdom of the people of Newcastle is really what is needed to guide the club back to the glory days of Glenn Roeder and midtable mediocrity.

The current situation is UK bid for the World Cup is that we (and other prospective hosts) are still negotiating with FIFA. FIFA do not wish to bear any cost at all and want a total blank cheque for them and all their committees,organisations and such like. The prospective hosts have to work out how big the cheque will have to be.

Why the fuck should the play-offs be seeded? I know it's hella unlikely but I really hope some two-bob Championship shitkicker (I don't want to name names, but let's say Liam Miller) conjures the spirit of Ray Houghton and dumps Italy out of first place on Saturday and that all the hard-working little nations somehow conspire to ensure that neither Ronaldo or Messi go to South Africa.

And the England World Cup bid thing is ridiculous. As much as I hate conspiracy theory stuff it's almost as if FIFA have said that they recognise England is a really strong contender for hosting the 2018 tournament but they don't want to it to come here. The idea that the bid is lacking a certain something is nonsense.

so it's not like they've come up with this on the fly. I agree they shouldn't be seeded but they'll just argue they've done it before.

They might still be brutal, seeded or not. France will be there almost certainly, one of Germany/Russia will be, one of Ukraine/Croatia (mind you, seeing Croatia against England maybe that's not so tough...), Portugal might be in there. Everyone will probably want Bosnia, who will then most likely win their playoff knowing the way things work.

but I like Italy too. If Portugal make it to the playoffs hopefully Ireland will trip them up. And frankly whilst they're under Domenech I wouldn't put 100% faith in France making it through the playoffs, even as seeds.

even if they repeat 1994 and beat them this weekend they'd need Italy to drop points in their last game at home to Cyprus to top the group.
France are much worse than Italy, Ireland would have a semi-decent chance against them.

the 2018 one will almost certainly be in Europe. I can't see them giving it to Russia (logistical nightmare) and the other European bids are joint bids, which FIFA seem to dislike for World Cups after 2002. So England might well wind up winning by default no matter what FIFA representative X says.